Vigoleno

The foundation of the original fortress probably dates back to the 10th century, but the first historical evidence dates back to 1141, when Vigoleno was an outpost of the Municipality of Piacenza on the road towards the Parma territories; around the thirteenth century it came into the possession of the Guelph Scotti family, in conflict with Piacenza, then dominated by the Ghibelline factions, who attacked and destroyed the castle during the century. XIV. It was the Municipality of Piacenza itself that rebuilt it and kept it until the end of the century, when it was destroyed again. The third building was the work of the Scotti themselves who regained possession of the fortress in 1389 thanks to the Viscontis, who also gave the place the rank of county. The current ruins of the castle are mostly the result of this fifteenth-century renovation.

Vigoleno, the village square with the oratoryThe traces of the Scotti family are still visible in the noble coats of arms carved both above the entrance portal to the village and on the tympanum of the oratory of the Madonna delle Grazie, in all likelihood the Scotti family chapel, unlike the church of San Giorgio which represented the parish of the small village. The Scotti family maintained possession of the fortress until 1908, later it was sold and transformed into a residential building.